Feynman links creative work with having enough mental freedom to think deeply and explore ideas without persistent distraction or pressure. His point is that difficult intellectual problems often require sustained attention, experimentation and periods in which ideas can develop without an immediate demand for results.

In this sense, “peace of mind” does not necessarily mean complete tranquillity or the absence of difficulty. It refers more broadly to having sufficient psychological and practical space for concentration. Creative work can be disrupted when attention is repeatedly divided by obligations, anxiety or external demands. The quotation therefore emphasises the conditions surrounding creativity rather than suggesting that insight can simply be produced through effort. It can be applied to scientific research, writing, design and other work where original thinking depends on maintaining enough uninterrupted attention to examine possibilities, follow uncertain lines of thought and develop ideas over time.